Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: Okay, so it's been nearly 4 months, I know. I'm terribly sorry, but at least I updated, right? The thing is, I joined the army, so it's a bit complicated for me to update more often than I want to. On a good note, I started writing chapter 14, which is the one of the chapters I've been looking forward to writing since I started this story. Things are going to get more interesting now. I hope.
Enjoy your reading!
Chapter 13 – Stupidity and Lack of Sleep:
Rain was pouring down forcefully outside the castle, now, when November was almost ending. It had been raining for days now, almost nonstop. Winter finally settled down and it was expected to linger for a few more cold months. Although it was freezing cold outside, the castle remained warm and held a comfortable feeling within the corridors and classrooms, which everyone enjoyed.
Apart from the sound of the heavy raindrops hitting the windowpanes, it was a quiet night. It had been the same every night since the Dueling Club ended. In the Slytherin sixth year boys' dormitory, almost all the occupants were soundly asleep, occasionally emitting a loud snore or a muffled groan; everyone was asleep, besides Harry.
For days, he had found himself unable to get much sleep. He lay awake in his bed, tossing from side to side as if trying to find a comfortable position so that he might find it relaxing and let his eyes close. Minutes later, he turned to lie on his back, staring up into nothing, as the darkness of the room enveloped him. He held his duvet to his chin and drummed his fingers on the headboard of the bed, while all sorts of thoughts swept through his mind. It usually went back to focusing on one particular subject, which he unsuccessfully had tried to avoid while trying to get to sleep. Her name was Ginny Weasley, and no matter how much he tried, she wouldn't leave his head. She was now a regular visitor who always came at night, whether he was dreaming or still awake.
Knowing he wouldn't get to sleep in the next few hours, he realized it'd be best at least to think about things other than Ginny. The Dueling Club, for some reason, was the first thing that came to his mind. Ever since then, he finally had his peace and quiet. Finally, he could let out a sigh of relief because people started coming to apologize to him for giving him the cold shoulder or offending him in every way, when they mistakenly thought he was a Death Eater. All of them, of course, were Slytherins (at least those who weren't on the dark side), since Harry never made friends with people from the other houses. He waited to hear an apology from Granger or her boyfriend, or perhaps even from Ginny, but none came, and he knew now not to expect anything from them.
The younger Slytherins started to look at him with some sort of awe after his duel with Dean Thomas, like he was their hero. They made up some exaggerated nicknames for him, like: 'The Best Dueler in Slytherin,' or in some cases: 'The Best Dueler in School.' Harry didn't show any signs of if he liked it or not, because deep inside, he knew it was all a lie. Without Lupin's help, he would've never gotten this title in the first place.
Despite the reoccurring questioning, Harry never told anyone how he learned to do the Confundus Charm – which was after all N.E.W.T level spell. He didn't want to give Lupin away and tell everyone that the Defense Professor had practically helped him cheat. It would get them both in trouble if any of the school staff found out their little secret.
From time to time, Harry had a chance to see Dean walking around the school alone, or with a couple of his mates. He never saw him around Ginny and thought they must have had a row or something. Every time he and Harry passed each other, Dean would turn back and look at him sullenly, clearly thinking it wasn't over. For Harry, however, it was. He had no reason to seek a fight with him again.
What troubled him the most was the fact that Ginny seemed to keep her distance from Dean. Surely they didn't... break up? More than once Harry had thought it could be real, but he didn't want to get his hopes up. Ginny and Dean were too close and happy. Why would they break up?
It was amazing how Ginny fought her way back into his thoughts once more. Maybe it was because he hadn't seen her lately. He'd only get a chance to get a fair look at her during meal times, but never had an opportunity to meet her alone again, not ever since he ran into her on her way to class after the all "Hogsmeade incident" he had with Dean. She always seemed to be around her friends, and if they happened to walk in the same corridor, she would never even look at him.
It saddened him even more than before. It was absolutely exasperating to have such strong feelings for a girl who obviously didn't feel the same way about him. It was eating him inside that she wasn't even looking his way anymore. Hadn't she heard he wasn't a Death Eater? Where was she the day of the Dueling Club, anyway? Was she still afraid of him after all?
Harry listened to the rain outside getting stronger. It pounded on his window forcefully. Tap, tap, tap. God, it drove him crazy. Why couldn't he just fall asleep?
A lightning struck a mile away, and a flash of light lit the room for a second. The thunder came a moment after, and Harry stayed still and listened to the storm outside. He never liked rain. He preferred snow in the winter and couldn't wait for the weather to be cold enough for snow to fall. Snow always reminded him of good times and Christmas. Christmas may have been right around the corner, but it seemed like the good times had vanished for the time being. Harry just couldn't call himself happy at the moment, what with Ginny, who doesn't give a damn about him, or with Lucius Malfoy, who could kill him and his parents anytime now.
The room was too dark for him now, he needed light to think straight, and to see that he was safely tucked in his bed and nothing menacing was near by. Reaching under his pillow for his wand and illuminating it, he also found a small piece of parchment there. He knew what it was, and the reason he put it there was because of the advice Lupin gave him. He needed that note to be with him all the time. When he was sleeping, he kept it under his pillow, and when he was awake, he kept it in his pocket. It was always protected, even better than prisoners in Azkaban.
Harry pulled out the note from underneath his pillow and unfolded it. He found that he could never stop looking at the words he absently scribbled on it days ago. He got used to the fact that it was he who wrote them down, but it still hadn't dawned on him completely that what he wrote was actually true. He knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that it was true, but just couldn't accept it. It didn't seem real to him. He never felt that way, so why now? Why about her?
Of course he would never tell a soul or let anyone see that note. Then again, he couldn't possibly keep it in his pocket forever. When he got over the phase he's having right now with Ginny, he will chuck that note into the fire before anyone could read it. He was also afraid that if anyone did read it, he'd be so crimson with embarrassment and people would stop talking to him again, stop liking him. Such things could easily kill his reputation in Slytherin.
Harry kept staring at the note in his hands. He couldn't read it perfectly; his vision was blurry since he hadn't bothered putting on his glasses to read it. He already knew what was written on it. He traced the black writing with his finger, as though something would happen or maybe they will disappear. He didn't want them to disappear. It was proof his feelings were real.
"Hmmm..." mumbled one of Harry's roommates suddenly from the other end of the room. "Wha...? Potter! Put that light off, you prick! Some of us aren't vampires like you! We actually sleep at night, you know!" the boy hissed.
"Screw you, Nott," groaned Harry, but despite that, he extinguished the light of his wand, stuffed it and the note back under the pillow, and sank his head into it. He closed his eyes shut, forcing sleep to come, and hoping that maybe the Ginny in his head would be nice enough to let him sleep what was left of the night.
"Umm... no. Still not waking up."
Harry vaguely heard some voices. Some very annoying, disturbing voices. Somewhere far away, way behind knowledge, he thought he was losing it, completely going mental if he was hearing voices now. He desperately hugged his pillow tighter and sank his face deeper in it; maybe that way he wouldn't hear them anymore. The sensation of being forcibly shaken was barely registering in his mind.
"Just smack him on the head with a pillow or something, always worked before."
Something quite heavy but yet soft hit him in the face unexpectedly. Harry let out a low, complaining groan, wishing the attacking thing to disappear and let him sleep a bit more.
"I'm telling you, he's dead."
"He's not dead, you moron, he's breathing!"
"Maybe he's unconscious?"
"Here, try this..."
Suddenly, an icy cold liquid flushed his face and Harry awoke with a start. His eyes were wide with confusion and shock; his hands were flipping around maniacally, running though his wet hair. He blinked the water drops from his eyelashes, not that it helped clear his vision, since he was seeing blurry without his glasses either way. Laughter was ringing around the room when Harry finally came to his senses.
"Whadehell?" he muttered, his voice still husky from sleep.
"Good morning," greeted Draco lazily. Harry shoved his glasses up his nose and noticed his friend was already dressed for school, and was leaning against the door.
Blaise was standing in front of him with the now empty glass of water in his hand, his face grinning mischievously.
"What the fuck, Blaise?" Harry demanded, pulling the ends of a few wet locks of his black, messy and currently damp hair. "I'm soaked!"
"Well, you wouldn't wake up. You missed breakfast," his friend informed him. He gave him a piece of toast wrapped in a paper napkin. Harry took it, but merely stared at it before his eyes started to drift close on their own.
"Whoa –" Blaise said, clicking his fingers in front of Harry's eyes, and they snapped open again. "Wake up! What is it with you? You look like shit."
"Thanks," Harry mumbled sarcastically, taking a slow bite off his toast.
"No, I really mean it. You look absolutely drained. What were you doing last night that was so exhausting?" He added an amused grin.
"No what you think, that's for sure," Harry said. "I can't catch much sleep lately." He pinched the bridge of his nose when he let out a loud yawn.
"Oh," Blaise said stupidly, but then added with a knowing tone, "You know, I noticed that you have trouble sleeping when something is troubling you."
"You think?" Harry asked angrily. He was already aware of that.
Blaise frowned at him, and again tossed a pillow at his face, causing Harry to fall back on the bed. "Don't bite my head off! I was just trying to help! Anyways, you better get ready quickly, classes start in ten minutes. Remember, we've got Snape first. You don't want to fall asleep, head in your cauldron in his class, do you? We'll meet you there," he said, joining Draco at the door, and leaving Harry all alone.
"You could've at least brought me some coffee!" Harry shouted after him.
"Get your own coffee!" He heard him call back. He closed his eyes again, savoring how good it felt to do that, his eyes weren't stinging anymore and he felt relief. "And don't fall asleep again!"
Harry let out an angry grunt and forced himself off the bed to get ready.
Luckily, he managed to get an E on today's potion assignment and stay awake all through the double period they had with Snape. Once the lesson was over, he was on his way to the kitchens to grab a cup of coffee, which hopefully will hold him awake for the rest of the day.
He was on his way for his next class, when he crossed the entrance hall and saw two girls were coming his way. They were whispering to themselves about something, crouching over something they held together in their hands. The first girl had brown bushy hair, while the other had magnificent long, red hair. Harry couldn't help but smile when he saw her. He felt he was blushing from the neck up and hated himself for it. He lowered his head when they passed him, embarrassed they'd see his flushed face, but they didn't even spare to glance at him.
"Well, who could have written it, then?" Ginny whispered fiercely, but Harry happened to still hear her voice.
"I have no clue. I spent the last few days in the library, searching for spells, but I tried everything I know, it won't do anything," Hermione said. "Maybe it's just a simple note, with nothing dark behind it."
"This is stupid!" Ginny said aloud, and Harry stopped to look back to see her raising her hands in defeat. "I'm giving up! Who ever wrote that note only wanted to drive me crazy!"
"Ginny, it's not true," Hermione said patiently. "We'll figure it out. We will find out who wrote this to you."
She was waving a small piece of parchment at her. Harry got a glimpse of a black line of words. His eyes went wide as he saw what it was. Ginny sighed and came over to take it back. She looked at the note again, let out another long sigh and went up the stairs, leaving Hermione alone.
It finally hit him. But no! It couldn't be true! He had both two notes with him all the time. Harry quickly started shoving his hands in all his pockets in try to find the two identical notes. All he found was the one he already knew he had. He was sure he took the second note from the desk in Lupin's classroom the other day, he must have had! But then again, he couldn't remember. She couldn't possibly have it! He rummaged through his bag, taking out books and long scrolls of parchment, but didn't find what he was looking for. She didn't just hold the second note! Panic was starting to take over. Please tell me she doesn't have the second note!
Nothing. He only had one note, and she, by the looks of it, had the other.
Sinking to the floor in despair, he gathered all his belongings and threw them back into his school bag. He could hear the bell ringing, signaling for students that the next lesson I was about to start. People all around him hurried to their classes. The floor trembled under his feet from all of them running together until the hall was completely silent again. He got up and looked around, suddenly seeing one girl watching him closely, a frown on her face. Harry saw Granger was about to say something, but he turned his back on her quickly and walked to his next class.
Ginny has the second note. That was all he could think of while he was walking to class. He was angry with himself, angry of being too stupid and forgetting the other note, and letting Ginny find it. He was supposed to keep it to himself, not to tell her. And now Granger knows he wrote it. Why there had to be two notes in the first place? Who knows how many people already read it, already talking about it behind his back, laughing about him. It was the last thing he wanted, the last thing he would have expected to happen.
Great! Just what he needed right now! He can forget about sleeping for the next two weeks or so. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
On the afternoon, Harry had his team out on the Quidditch pitch for a practice. It was quite dark with all the black clouds in the sky, and the sun only came out and shone one ray of light for just a second and then disappeared again. The rain weakened by the hour, but the team still complained about the rough conditions. It was freezing outside, but Harry was determined to have a practice today.
"Why do we have to practice today?" whined Jackson.
"Because our game against Ravenclaw will probably be held under weather worse than this. We need to get use to playing in these weather conditions," Harry replied, raising his voice so the team could hear him over the loud whistles of the blowing wind.
He could barely see anything with his glasses on, not to mention without them. The rain drops kept spattering over his lenses and every now and then he needed to wipe them clean.
"We're so going to catch pneumonia," Graham said quietly, he's teeth clanking. It was hard to hear him over the loud whistles of the wind, and Harry thought he heard him adding, "I ha-hate th-this!"
"Why won't we just say we can't play? We'll fake someone's got an injury. That way, Ravenclaw will play against Hufflepuff," suggested Blaise. "I remember Flint did it three years ago with Gryffindor."
"No, we can't avoid it. Now stop acting like a bunch of babies. It'd be only one hour," Harry said.
They started practicing. Harry could barely see what was going on, but it sounded like it wasn't going well. The Chasers kept flying into each other, Draco missed the Quaffle at least five times, and Crabbe and Goyle couldn't see where they were aiming the Bludgers, as the two angry black balls started soaring in the air, almost knocking everyone off their brooms, and Harry's situation wasn't better. He never even came close to the Snitch. This is bad, Harry thought.
He called a five minute break. They all landed on the ground and headed for the changing rooms.
"Who's that?" Draco asked. He pointed to someone standing at the entrance of their changing room. The silhouetted figure held a cloak above its head, shielding itself from the rain. As Harry and his teammates got closer, a face started to be more visible. It was Hermione Granger, and Harry could only guess why she was there.
"What're you doing here, Granger?" he asked her.
"Came spying for her boyfriend about our moves, what else," Draco accused, putting on a disgusted face.
"I don't even understand Quidditch, Malfoy!" she retorted. "And not that there was much to see, anyway; even a one year old could tell you can't play at this weather!" Draco made an angry sound and walked into the changing room without another look at her.
"What do you want?" Harry asked again.
"I came to talk to you. People told me I'll find you here; you must be crazy to practice in this weather."
"I don't have the mood or the time to chat right now, Granger. I have here six people who I need to train for our next match, and I myself can't even see a damn thing with these on!" He pulled off his glasses and cleaned them with the hem of his wet sweater, only to cause them to get dirtier. He sighed in annoyance and meant to put them back on, but Hermione snatched them from his grip.
"Here, let me," she said. She pulled out her wand and tapped the glasses with it. "Impervius." She handed them back and Harry looked at her, confused. He tried them on and found that he could see.
"Hua. Thanks," he mumbled almost inaudibly, but she gave him a small smile. Harry looked at her and sighed. He knew what she wanted to talk about, and he wanted to tell her something as well, that's why he didn't tell her to leave when he saw her. He knew that if he gets himself into this now, he will never be able to concentrate on their practice today. "Look, whatever you want to tell me just do it later. I really can't right now."
"Fine, I'll wait," she said and turned around to leave. "I'll meet you at the entrance hall when you finish your practice."
Harry nodded and entered the changing room. He grabbed a towel and wiped his face dry.
"What did the Mudblood want?" Draco asked.
"Nothing," Harry replied. He then had a short talk with his team about how they should play, and it seemed to have helped a bit.
Half an hour later, Harry called the practice over. He walked back to the castle, dreading of what Granger might tell him. She probably wanted to let him know that she told Ginny he was the one who wrote the note she found.
When he entered the castle, he looked around and then spotted her, sitting on the stairs with a book open on her knees. He walked to her and when she spotted him, she stood up and put the book in her bag.
She turned around and walked up the stairs. "Come after me," she said simply. Harry walked behind her. They didn't say anything else to each other until they reached the fourth floor and Harry saw she was heading to the library.
"Merlin, Granger, is there a day you don't come here?"
"This is the most private and quiet place I could think of. Do you have any other suggestions?" she said.
"A broom cupboard, maybe?"
She laughed lightly. "Don't be ridiculous, Potter. If Ron catches me with you in a broom cupboard, you know well enough what he will do to you."
They walked into the library. Hermione gave Madame Pince a small smile and then headed to a table in the back of the room, which was hidden behind high bookshelves. He thought it was good. That way, no one will see them together.
"But what makes you think that we can talk here without letting the mad librarian over there to kick us out for disturbing the silence of the library?" he hissed at her.
"Madame Pince isn't mad, she just misunderstood. She knows me well enough, and she trusts me. Now, sit down," Hermione indicated for him to take an empty seat while she sat in the seat across him.
"So I know you wrote the note," she said, getting straight to the point.
"Yeah, I've already realized that," he said quietly, bowing his head in shame.
"You don't have to act like that. There is nothing wrong with having feelings for someone. You too, can act like a normal human being who has emotions. You don't have to shut yourself out."
Harry looked away, staring out of the closest window and watched the sky turning dark blue while the rain kept pouring down. "If you haven't told her yet, please don't."
Hermione's voice stuttered. He could hear confusion in her voice. "You... you don't want her to know it's you?"
"No, I don't."
"But she should know," Hermione insisted. "She's out of her mind, trying to figure out who it is who wrote that note. She should know and you should tell her."
Harry let out a hollow laugh. "She's not even close, is she? She doesn't even think I might be the guy who wrote it, does she?"
Hermione didn't say anything for a moment, and Harry knew he was right. Ginny didn't care about him. "Well, maybe she just needs someone to help her get on the right track? Ginny is just so confused right now. She doesn't know what she wants. If you let me talk to her –"
"I said no," Harry said firmly. "I don't need you, Ginny or anyone to take pity on me. I don't need or want your help with this. That note was never supposed to get to her. I wanted this to be kept quiet; obviously, I failed." He sighed heavily. "Let's face it, she's not feeling the same way for me. And if you tell her it's me, she'll only be disappointed. I just wonder what Dean might say about it."
Hermione cast him a weird look. "What's Dean got to do with – Oh. Tell me you're joking," she said, as though waiting to hear him to abort what he just said.
"Joking about what?" he asked her confusedly.
"Merlin, I thought you knew!"
"Knew what? What is it?" he pressed.
Hermione clapped her hand to her mouth and started muttering to herself. "Goodness, the all school knows it for weeks, and he's still living under a rock... Dean... Ginny... They... They ended it like a month ago. At Hogsmeade. On Halloween. Right after... When you were unconscious, they got into this big row. She actually defended you, and he wanted to know why. After that, she told him it was over and he left. She helped you wake up and tried to explain, but you didn't listen to her. I think that's what caused her to turn her back on you. She's angry because she finally realized you cared for her, but then you were all cold to her again and that's where you are now," she explained.
Harry looked horrorstruck. He ruined it, ruined everything he could have had with her. If he only just stayed back and listened to what she had to say then maybe now he wouldn't be here talking to Hermione Granger in the library, hidden from the world. He never felt more stupid in his entire life, and he cursed himself for his stupidity.
He bore his face in his hands and then slammed his palm hard on the table, causing Hermione to jump.
A long moment has passed before she spoke again. "I – I want to help you..." she said tentatively. Her voice was soft and he never heard her talk to him with that tone.
Harry shook his head. "Yeah, I know. I've got serious problems, I need help. All the shrinks and healers didn't help before, but I've got the feeling you can make some progress with me," he said half-sarcastically, half-seriously.
Hermione had no clue what he was talking about. She decided she'd best forget it and explain herself. "No, I meant helping you with Ginny."
Harry's head rose up at once. Slowly, he started chuckling silently. "You – Want to help – Me – With Ginny?"
"Yes," she said seriously. "I do."
"But you hate me. I hate you."
"If you hate me, than why are you here talking to me?" she challenged, crossing her hands over her chest and leaning back in her chair, watching him fumbling for words.
He opened his mouth several times to respond, but couldn't find anything to say to that. She was quite right, he didn't hate her. He didn't really have a reason to. She on the other hand, should hate him, for all the horrible things he had done and said to her.
"Why do you want to help me?"
"Because this situation is exhausting the two of you. You're too stubborn and she's too blind. If you let me help, we might fix this. She cares for you, I know she does. Otherwise, why did she break up with Dean because of you? Why did she care enough to help you wake up that day? Why did she say you kissed better than him?"
Harry's eyes lit up and his heart jumped all the way to his brains. "She said that?"
Hermione nodded. "Hua-hua. Let me help you."
But Harry looked over to the window again; doesn't know if he should believe the things she said. Again, he was feeling like he should back off and give up. This phase will eventually fade away. "But it's not worth it. She's in her own perfect world, where I don't even exist."
Hermione moved to another chair in order to catch his look. "Ginny insists on staying in denial when she's not one hundred percent believing what she feels or what is the truth, but if you flash it in front of her eyes, she'll realize that she was wrong."
Harry wanted to believe her. She was saying all those comforting things to him. For the first time ever since he realized he fancied Ginny, he had someone to talk to openly about it, and it made him feel more relieved. She understood how he felt and what he was going through. She wanted to help him get Ginny, but then something still didn't seem to make sense. "And why do you want to help me? What will you get from it?"
"Well, if my plan works, you and Ginny get together and hopefully be happy. What I get from is just your kindness. Instead of saying 'Get lost, Mudblood'" – she said it in a fake, low and manly voice – "you could just say 'Hello.' You know, as a sign of gratitude for what I did for you."
"I guess I can do that," he said quietly. "But what if your plan won't work? Or why would she even want me? I already tried getting her attention, it didn't work. I blew it long time ago, when I first had a chance. All she thinks when she sees me is 'What is this Death Eater want from me now?'"
Hermione didn't give up. She could see he had a very low self esteem when it came to girls, and she wanted to fix it for him. "Okay, first of all, you can count on me that my plan will work. I know Ginny and I know what I'm doing, so just trust me on this. Secondly, trying to get her attention by being rough on her isn't the way to do it. You need to be gentle, to know what she wants. I'll help you there, don't worry. And lastly, nobody, not even Ginny, still thinks you're a Death Eater. We all know the truth now."
"Well, then it could have been nice to apologize," Harry spat, suddenly feeling angry. "Now you know the truth, but you did think I was one at first, did you? If I hadn't showed it to everyone, you would probably still believe those rumors."
Hermione's flushed a very faint color of pink. "Okay, I admit it, I misjudged you, but it was really only because Ron said you threatened him, and then there were all these scenarios that he pointed out to me. It was pretty convincing after he said you were casting a Confundus Charm on Professor Lupin and he acted like nothing happened." Harry looked at her with his mouth agape. So that's what he thought I'd done. She saw his mortified look, and she hurried to explain. "But then, at the Dueling Club we realized! We realized we were wrong about you, and it was all just a big misunderstanding." She exhaled heavily, because she almost forgot to breathe. "I'm really sorry. I should have said it before, but I really am truly sorry."
Harry sat quietly for a moment, going though what she just told him. "When did I threaten him?" he finally asked, after a long pause. "I was only joking at first; I wasn't seriously going to use an Unforgivable Curse on him. Why would he say I threatened him?"
"He said you told him not to tell anyone about what he saw in Lupin's classroom or else, you'd be upset."
"Okay, I find this whole thing quite ironic, because he swore to me he didn't tell you about that when he actually did, but it wasn't a threat. I only said it so he won't tell Ginny whatever he came up with, because then I really will be upset, in case she believed whatever he'd say to her! He must have misunderstood me, is all."
Hermione looked at him apologetically. "Well, I didn't know that. I guess things have gotten out of hand, haven't they?"
"Yeah, I guess so..." he said quietly.
For the first time in what must have been like two hours, a long silence fell between them. Harry realized it wasn't weird at all to talk to her. All those years he mistook her, thinking the same as his friends were thinking, calling her names because she wasn't like them, but in fact she was more like him, and she must have suffered all those years because of him.
"So what will your boyfriend say if he finds out you were talking to me and helping me get his sister behind his back?" Harry asked.
"Oh, he'll probably freak out and get really mad at me, but eventually forgive me because he loves me. Then again, Ron and I have always shared different opinions about almost everything."
The library was now closing, and he and Hermione got up to leave. They were the last people except Madame Pince who stayed there. Dinner was now being served in the Great Hall, and Harry was in a particularly good mood now, thanks to her. They descended the stairs to the Great Hall together, no one was in sight to see them talking to each other.
"God, I need a smoke," Harry said suddenly. That must have caught Hermione off guard, for that she turned to look at him with her eyebrows raised. "I used to smoke, something like three years ago when I was too stupid to notice it. Then my parents caught me and that was the end of it. I just have the need to have one right now. There's too much going on, too much pressure."
"Don't worry, it will all be over soon. Now, what you really need to start doing is to think of a Christmas gift for Ginny."
"I beg you pardon?" Harry looked at her as though she'd gone mad.
She went on, as if she hadn't heard him. "I recommend you buy her something nice, but not too fancy. Try to think of something she will like. Oh, don't look at me like that. I think it'd be a good thing to start with. Keep it as a secret for the meanwhile. Just think of it, Secret Santa," she added mysteriously once they reached the entrance hall and she hurried to the Great Hall.
"Hey, Granger," he said before she went through the doors. She turned around and looked at him. "I just wanted to say thank you and that I'm sorry, for everything I did to you."
She nodded and smiled kindly. "Apology accepted."
Harry suddenly felt an enormous weight lifting off his shoulders. Now he has to figure out what Granger meant by the 'Secret Santa' comment.
It was Saturday morning, and it finally stopped raining. The air, however, was still cold outside and wild winds were still blowing occasionally, so Harry, Draco and Blaise stayed at their dormitory, where a nice, warm fire was burning in the small hearth of the room. As there was a last Hogsmeade trip before the holiday, they decided to go to the village later that day.
Right now, Draco was lying in bed, reading the previous day's paper. Blaise was tossing a paper ball he made from his unsatisfactory Transfiguration homework back and forth at the wall with his wand, and Harry was making a list of suggestions for gifts he could buy Ginny for Christmas.
Right now he had a sheet of paper only full of doodles of little stick people which were meant to be him and Ginny kissing. He couldn't think of anything to get her, but knew there had to be at least one thing she would like. After a few minutes of racking his brains and finding nothing, he had the courage to ask some help.
"Say, Blaise. If you were a girl, what would you want me to get you for Christmas?"
Blaise turned and look at him with a puzzled look on his face. "Are you implying something or is there a redhead girl you want to get a Christmas gift for?"
Harry couldn't help but gave him a smile and he felt himself blush from the neck to the roots of his hair. "The latter," he admitted. He got used to the fact that Blaise and Draco didn't care he liked Ginny, as long he didn't brag too much over it, like Blaise did with his crush on Pansy.
Blaise played along, leaning against the headboard of his bed. "Well, okay. Assuming I'm a redhead girl who also likes Quidditch, I would have wanted the new broom on the market, Tearing Tiger. ROAR!"
Harry burst out laughing at the imitation of Blaise roaring and holding his hands like Tiger's claws. "Yeah, problem is I only have like 10 Galleons worth allowance that I saved for the last six months and I need to buy presents for seven people. Maybe I'll get her a scarf or a hat or some other rubbish girls like."
"Jewelry," Draco said from his bed. Harry turned to look at him. His face was still hidden behind the paper. "You might consider buying her a jewel or something. That's what girls like."
"Perhaps you didn't hear me, Draco, I have a low budget," Harry said a bit louder, as if to make it clear to Draco what he was saying.
"I did hear you, but there an advertisement here for a new jewelry store down in Hogsmeade. They're having a special offer for the holiday, really low prices on everything in the store," he said, finally moving the newspaper off his face.
"Let me see that," Harry said, taking the paper from him. He looked at the ad and saw the pictures of all kinds of beautiful jewels. The prices flashed in and out of the frame. The prices were indeed low compared to other jewelry stores, and Harry thought it would be a great idea to stop there later and buy something for Ginny.
"Hey, what's that?" said Blaise suddenly. He was sitting on the carpet now and had the paper in his hands. He looked concerned over the front page. "Draco, did you look at this? Your father is mentioned here."
Harry and Draco swooped next to Blaise as he laid the paper on the floor. The front page of the Daily Prophet bore the headlines: MASSIVE DEATH EATERS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN! "This is yesterday's paper. I just got around to look at it," Draco commented. They all began to read quietly.
Last night Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, had confirmed to the press that Azkaban prison had a breakout of no more than seven convicted Death Eaters. This is the first time anyone ever succeeded breaking out of Azkaban.
The Ministry right now has no idea how seven Death Eaters managed to escape from the Dementors guarding the prison. The scene is now investigated by expert Aurors.
However that, the Ministry does have speculations that Lucius Malfoy, a respectable known wizard, who was also suspected to be a Death Eater more than a decade ago, but got off when proved his claim that he had been under the effect of the Imperious Curse before You-Know-Who's big downfall, was behind the whole incident. Malfoy right now is suspiciously missing. Aurors and Dementors have been placed by his home.
Fudge did not want to elaborate on what else the Ministry's forces are doing at the moment, and if indeed Malfoy had anything to do with the breakout, but a source within the Ministry, who wished to remain unnamed, has told us that it was hard not to see that Malfoy is planning to get back at Sirius Black for killing He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named for fifteen years now, and was only waiting for the right time to strike. "It's obvious Mr. Malfoy is trying to gather as much power as he can. He's probably one of the few people who know where Black is hiding and he's about to do something about it. With the help of the escaped Death Eaters, Malfoy is at large at the moment and very dangerous. No one can predict how he managed to help them escape, where they are all hiding and when they will strike. Fudge is extremely worried about the public's safety, but yet trying to stay calm."
At the press conference last night, Fudge agreed to say the names of the escaping Death Eaters, "This is a warning for each and every one of you. If any of you see the following, please alert the Ministry of Magic immediately: Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, Bellatrix Lestrange, Walden Mcnair, Bartemius Crouch Jr., Antonin Dolohov and Augustus Rookwood. These witches and wizards are extremely dangerous. Please be careful until an official announcement of their captures will be released."
For more information on Sirius Black and Lucius Malfoy, please read page 4, columns 2 and 3.
At the bottom of the article was a row of pictures which held the names of the escaping Death Eaters along with the word 'Wanted' above each photo, and at the center of the page were two more pictures. The first was of Lucius Malfoy, sneering at the camera, the other of a very young version of his godfather. Harry never seen Sirius so young, but he noticed his spirit never changed. The Sirius in the picture, 15 years younger, was winking at the camera from time to time and holding a huge grin on his face.
After finishing looking at the paper, Harry looked over at Draco. His head was bowed, his fist clutched tightly and he had a dark expression on his face. Harry wasn't feeling so cheerful himself. He knew that meant that he and his parents need to be really careful right now, more than everyone, and he wouldn't be surprised if they needed to go back into hiding.
Draco got up without saying a word and left the room, closing the door to their dormitory quietly, as if not to disturb anyone on such a quiet Sunday morning. Harry and Blaise exchanged worried looks. Harry at least, would expect him to burst out and get really upset, but the serenity in Draco's behavior was quiet disturbing.
"What do you reckon will happen this Christmas?" Blaise asked in a hushed voice.
Harry sighed. His eyes drifted back to the photo of Draco's father in the paper. "I don't know. Let's just hope it will be a happy one, for all of us."
The Great Hall was decorated in its usual holiday decorations and the twelve giant Christmas trees. The enchantment ceiling of the Hall reflected the snowy weather outside and gave the feeling as though the light white flakes were falling into the castle.
Harry had done all his Christmas shopping that afternoon in Hogsmeade and spent the rest of the day in the Three Broomsticks, drinking butterbeer with Draco and Blaise. Draco seemed to be feeling a bit more cheerful since that morning, but Blaise and Harry knew there was something he was trying to hide. They weren't sure how Draco's Christmas would be, with just him and his mother alone at their big mansion, whereas his father was still missing along with the other escaped Death Eaters, which none of them had been caught yet.
The thing that sucked the most was that neither of them could invite Draco to spend Christmas with them. Blaise was leaving with his parents to his relatives in Ireland, and Harry's parents will never let him get into the house, especially with the current situation with Draco's father, and Sirius being at their home.
Later that evening, right before dinner, Harry had a little chat with Professor Lupin, who told him he would be taking him to his parents and spend the Christmas with them like it was planned.
"You can spend the train ride with your friends," he said. "And when we get off in London, you'll join me."
Harry was sitting in Lupin's office, in front of his desk, with Lupin was sitting on the other side. "Are we going into hiding?" he dared to ask. He was afraid of asking the question and the answer he would get in return. He didn't want to go into hiding. He wanted things to be normal, where Sirius could walk down the street freely, without fears that a Death Eater would catch him, and not in his Animagi form, and where all the Death Eaters are locked behind bars in Azkaban, and where his friends didn't need to worry about anything but school exams.
"I really don't know, Harry," Lupin replied sincerely. "Could be, could not. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Professor Dumbledore said he will let us all know when would be the right time to do that. He still thinks you're safe when you are, and that there is nothing to worry about."
"Even with the breakout from Azkaban?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Yes, even with the breakout. Your house, Harry, is very guarded place. Both of your parents are Aurors, and they trust Dumbledore. You do trust Dumbledore, don't you?"
"Well, yes. I guess..." he said quietly. He remembered how his parents always praised Dumbledore for being the greatest wizard in the world.
Harry looked down at his Professor's desk and sighed heavily. Then, his eyes spotted a familiar yellow parchment, which was lying open on the desk. Lots of black dots were moving there, and Harry leaned forward to catch a better glance at it, with Lupin watching him questioningly.
"Is that the parchment that I gave you on Halloween?" Harry asked with curiosity, not noticing that he's prying. "Is it really a map?"
"Yes it is," Lupin replied with a light note in his voice. "It's not just a map; it's the Marauder's Map."
Harry looked up at him and raised his eyebrows in surprised. "You mean you, Sirius and my dad did that?" he asked with wonderment.
Of course he knew all about the time when his father and his friends called themselves Marauders. He spent years hearing all kinds of funny stories they did while being at school, and he recalled he once heard about a map, which Filch confiscated during their sixth year.
Lupin nodded. "Yes, along with Peter," he said. Harry's face soured at the mention of the traitor's name. Lupin didn't seem to notice it and continued, "I don't know how it got into your hands, Harry, but I ought to let your father and Sirius see it again. It has been such a long time since we last seen it."
"What does it do exactly?" Harry queried.
"Well, it's a map of Hogwarts. It shows where everyone is at this moment, and all the secret passages that we knew about," Lupin explained.
Harry wrinkled a brow. "What secret passages?"
At that, Lupin must have noticed he said something Harry shouldn't have known. "The ones that your mother will kill me if I'll tell you about." Harry let out a small chuckle.
Lupin then reached to map, ready to roll it up, when he suddenly stopped and looked at the map intensely, and his face paling in an instant. Harry watched him swallow hard and get to his feet, his hands shaking.
"Harry, I – There's something that came up," he said rashly, still staring at the map with the same stunned face. "I'll see you later. Let yourself out, okay?"
And before Harry could ask what was wrong, Lupin was out of his office, running down the hallway, the Marauder's Map still clutched in his hands. Harry wasn't sure what exactly caused this sudden change in his Professor's behavior, but was sure it was none of his business, so he left the office, only to remember his own concerns. He was concerned about Draco, and about his family, and one of his biggest concerns was if Ginny will like the present he got her or not?
So after dinner, he waited for Granger outside the Great Hall. He wanted to ask her what she thought of it. He still couldn't believe himself he was on speaking terms with her, but she wanted to help him and he really needed her help. As she left the Great Hall, she was walking along with the two Weasleys. Now how he was supposed to get her alone without making it look suspicious?
Without thinking much, he called her and said the first thing that came to his mind before they will disappear up the staircase to Gryffindor Tower.
"Oy, Granger!" he yelled. The three Gryffindors spun around. Ron's expression changed in a second to a scowl. Harry's stomach lurched as Ginny's eyes narrowed when she spotted him, but Hermione's features stayed natural. "Umm... Professor Snape... he... he asked me to call you to his office."
Hermione made a move to come down the stairs when Ron stopped her. "Whatever for?" he asked him sharply.
"Honestly, Ronald! It's going to be fine," Hermione said to him with a roll of her eyes. "Stop being too protective of everyone." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before coming down and joining Harry to the direction of the dungeons.
As they reached the dark dungeons, Harry pulled her behind a suit of armor. "I feel like we're sneaking around to snog," he muttered. He looked around carefully to see nobody was around, and then pulled out of his pocket a red velvet box in a shape of a heart, opened it and showed her the necklace he picked for Ginny. "What do you think?" he asked.
It was a silver chain with three pearls. The one in the middle was big and pink, while the two on either side of it were white, but smaller.
"Oh, it's lovely," she said, leaning down to the red box to examine the necklace more closely. "Is that real silver?"
"Yes. The pearls are real, too." Then he murmured, "Do you think she'll like it?"
"If she won't, then she's a fool," Hermione replied with a snicker. "This must have cost you a lot."
"Yeah, pretty much..." Harry's voice trailed off. "Well, she deserves something nice, right?"
Harry looked up to see her smiling fondly at him. "Don't do that," he said icily, before she'll sigh or say "Awww!"
Hermione raised her hands in defeat. "Haven't done anything," she said innocently. "So, have you decided what you're writing her on the card?"
"I need to write a card?" Harry said in surprise. All this time he was busy thinking of buying something nice for Ginny, that he totally forgot he also needed to write her a card.
Hermione cast him a pointed look. "Every Christmas present should have a card from the sender."
"But I thought you said I should keep it a secret for the meanwhile?"
"I did, but that doesn't mean you don't need to write a card," she said. "I would love to help you there as well, but I think it should be personal and come from the heart."
Hermione then handed him the necklace and walked off up the stairs, back to the entrance hall.
That night it was the last night before it was time to leave for the holiday. After Harry was all packed up and ready to head to bed, he finally found the time to write Ginny her card. It was around one in the morning, but he didn't care.
From the few cards he bought to everyone, he found just the one he thought looked nice on the wrap of the necklace box. It had two little snowpersons on the front, which were holding their stick hands together, and snowflakes in shapes of tiny hearts were falling around them.
An hour later, when he thought he had finished and came with a good result, he suddenly remembered he needed to sign it. Well, of course he couldn't write his name if it was suppose to be anonymous. He finally came up with something that he had heard a few days back and thought it was perfect. When he was finished, he put it on the golden wrapping of her gift and hid at the bottom of his trunk, and went to sleep.
The morning after had arrived too quickly and Harry never thought he will relive a déjà vu like he was having at the moment.
He was having trouble waking up again, but of course, being sunken deep with sleep, he didn't realize it until someone was giggling like an eight-year-old school girl and something was poking his right cheek annoyingly. Harry slapped it away, but the giggling only went stronger. There were also sounds of clicking and flashes of light, which Harry had no clue in his state of slumber what exactly caused them.
"Mmwha!" a squeaky voice said along with other kissing noises. "Hawwy musht wake up because he's shoooo gownna be late for the twain," it said in a mock baby voice.
"Go'way," Harry groaned, hiding his head now under the pillow. "I don't wanna get up."
"Hawwy, I lurve you!" the annoying voice said happily, and Harry heard more giggling.
"Leavemealone!"
"But Hawwy, I luuuurve you!" The annoying thing kept poking his cheek, even underneath the pillow it found its target, and made those stupid kissing noises.
"Blaise, I swear I'm going to kill you if I get up!" he threatened sleepily, half aware of what was going on. It was the same story all over again, only this time Harry wished he won't get showered unwillingly. He just didn't have the strength to get up and get ready. He was too tired and wished to sleep a bit more.
"I'm not Blaise, Harry. Don't you recognize me? I thought you loved me, Harry. It's me, Ginny," said the voice, which now was unsuccessfully trying to imitate a girl's voice.
"Argh..."
"Let me try..." whispered someone, Harry was falling back to sleep and didn't care who it was.
His shelter pillow was lifted off his head and he groaned again. "Hiya, stud," suddenly whispered a soft, sexy, feminine voice in his ear, which Harry's too clouded with sleep mind still knew that Blaise could never in the world make it sound so perfect. It reminded him so much of Ginny. Was she really there? No, she couldn't be. Could she? Oh, what a perfect dream he's having...
"Ginny...?" Harry mumbled softly, and opened one eyelid, expecting to see the beautiful freckled face of Ginny Weasley, but instead finding none other than the doggish features of Pansy Parkinson smiling brightly at him.
"Argh!" Harry yelled, and in less than a second he was at the other end of the bed, clutching his sheets closely to his body and hiding any uncovered part from Pansy's prying eyes.
A good wave of laughter erupted around the room. There, right in front of his bed stood his two best friends. Draco was struggling to breathe, a camera in his hands. He obviously just took another picture, as Harry saw he already had a bunch of them scattered on the floor. Next to him was Blaise, holding his stomach and rolling with laughter. His hand was dressed with the most repelling sock puppet Harry had ever seen. It had full red lips at the front, and drawn black eyes with long eyelashes. So that what was kissing him...
"Gross..." Harry mumbled. "You probably got your germs and flees all over my beddings now!" he complained bitterly to Pansy, sweeping with his hand invisible germs off his blanket, where she sat a moment before.
"Oh, it's okay for us to share spit, but not for me to sit next to you?" she asked, her eyebrows raised and arms folded together.
"Please don't remind me of that horrible incident, it's a scar for life!"
"May I remind you, Potter, that you kissed me," she said, sounding a bit offended now.
Harry groaned. "I was probably drunk, then," he said. How did he even got into the situation of kissing Pansy, he totally forgot. Ginny. It was all because of her. "What are you doing here, anyway? It's the boys' dormitories."
Pansy put on her face a confidant smile and said, "Well, Draco and Blaise came for my assistance when they couldn't wake you up. We had quite a show here with Ms. Puppet that Blaise made," she said, referring to the ugly sock puppet Blaise was now taking off his hand, "and took a few pictures." She then threw the last picture Draco took at Harry's lap. "Anyways, guys. I'm going. Got to make some last minute packings. See you on the train," she said and walked out of their dorm room.
Harry glanced down at the picture now sitting on his bed. He was too scared to even look at it. He simply grabbed it forcefully and crumpled it into a ball.
"I–want–those–pictures–destroyed!" he said through clenched teeth, and before he managed to launch himself at the pile of the other pictures on the floor, Blaise held him back, while Draco picked them up.
"Na-uh," Draco said. "This is for bribery," he said, amused, while he waved them at him, as if it they were saying goodbye to him and it was the last time he was ever going to see them. "You see, Blaise and I thought we'll show it to your precious Ginny in case you won't cancel the game against Ravenclaw after Christmas. I'm sure the Weaslette will love to see them. How many times did he say her name last night, Blaise?"
Blaise made his all-so-famous thinking face. "Umm... six, if I'm not mistaken."
Harry's face was all red from embarrassment. "I was not talking in my sleep!" he insisted.
"Yes you were, and it was so damn hilarious!" Blaise countered.
Harry was tired listening to this. He was now fully awake, and he needed to get ready to leave and have a proper breakfast first. "Fine, whatever," he said lamely. "But I'm not canceling the game! We're playing after Christmas and that is it! And I don't care who you'll show those pictures to. By all means, be my guest."
Honestly, he did care if they'll show it to Ginny, but he knew all too well that she wouldn't care about it at all. He wasn't one of her concerns, so why should she care about him?
Dean, Neville, Colin and Michael. Dean, Neville, Colin and Michael. Those four names ran through Ginny's head over and over again. She was trying to figure out who could be this mystery guy who wrote her 'The Ghost Note', as she called it lately, because it seemed like neither one of them was him.
She started to point it out to herself, and even written it down in a list.
Dean, her last boyfriend. She was the one who broke up with him. He tried to get together with her. They were together for nearly five months. Problem was that she knew his handwriting too well to know that it didn't match the writing on the note.
Colin, as she was told by Luna, always seemed to be around her because he fancies her. She had the courage to come and ask him if he write her the note, but he swore it wasn't him. She knew he was being honest with her, so he was immediately off the list.
Next was Neville, whom she'd been told not too long ago that he fancied her, but lately she'd seen him around Susan Bones, and Hermione made a note that they were indeed an item, so he couldn't be the one.
And lastly was Michael, her first boyfriend. They were only together for a short while and it was over six months since their breakup, so if it was him, why hadn't he said anything, or why did he remember to let it out now? She could just imagine him laughing at her face when she'll ask him about it, so she was left with nothing.
Or did she?
He couldn't possibly... she thought. No, not him. This is ridiculous! Harry Potter couldn't be her mystery guy!
Or could he...?
The train station at Hogsmeade was packed with students. Harry's neck was starting to hurt from craning over their heads, in try to spot Ginny's red hair. All of it was to nothing. He just couldn't find her.
Right when he was about to give in, he heard a familiar voice, talking fast and in a tone of annoyance. He knew that whenever he heard Hermione Granger's voice, Ron Weasley was with her, probably arguing and is the reason why she sounded annoyed, and usually, wherever Ron went, Ginny came after him.
Harry was right about that.
Hermione and Ron were dragging their trunks to the station, having just got off their horseless carriage. They were too busy arguing about what sounded like homework they had gotten for the break, to notice that Ginny was looking unfocused, barely managing to make her way through the crowd as she walked slackly behind them. She bumped into a few people and almost dropped her trunk twice, but then, she stopped, finally snapping out of her daze as she said goodbye to a few friends that passed her by.
Harry thought it was the best time to give her the gift. But how could he do it without even approaching her?
He spotted a first year and grabbed him by the shoulder. The kid squeaked with a start, but Harry quickly shushed him. "Want to make a few Sickles?" he asked the boy. He looked up at Harry as though he went crazy, but Harry stuck his hand into his robe's pocket and took out a small bag with ten silver Sickles he was left as change from his Christmas shopping. "You want them?"
The boy looked up at him and nodded eagerly, his eyes glinting at the small bag in Harry's hands. Harry smiled in satisfaction. He led him to a far corner and when he was sure no one was looking at them, he took Ginny's gift out of his bag, all wrapped up nicely, and handed it to him. He bent down to match his eye level and then pointed out Ginny. "You see that girl with the red hair?" he asked. The boy nodded again vigorously. "You take that gift and give it to her. If she asks you who gave it to you, don't say anything or point to me, is that clear?" Another excited nod. "If you tell her who you got it from, not even one coin for you, got it?"
"Yeah," he said in his squeaky voice.
Harry got up on his feet and pushed him forward. "Good. Now go."
He watched him run to Ginny and then tugging the end of her scurf from behind. She turned around and looked down at him. The boy simply gave her the gift, and Harry could see she was amazed to receive it. He could read her lips, saying 'Who gave you this?' but he just shrugged and disappeared into the crowd. Neither Ginny nor Harry could see him, and Harry thought he had done a great job, because if he would have come back straight to him, his cover would have been exposed right away.
Ginny was still surprised to receive the gift. Harry could see her staring at it and examining it closely. She them noticed the card, and quickly opened it. A minute after, her mouth opened speechlessly and Harry felt satisfied with himself. He knew he was blushing a little, and did his best to hide it.
Someone pecked him on the back. He turned around to see the small boy waiting for him with a small grin on his lips, and his hand already stretch forward. Harry, as promised, gave him the small bag of money and the kid disappeared from sight before Harry managed to say: "Nice doing business with you."
Ginny walked slowly behind Ron and Hermione into an empty compartment they found. They all sat down as the train started to move.
Ron found it suddenly rather weird that she was too quiet all morning. He turned to see her staring at a package in her hands, wrapped with shiny read and gold paper.
"Hey, where did you get that from?" he asked her.
"Some first year kid gave it to me..." she said softly, barely paying attention. Her eyes were still focused on the card.
Hermione moved next to her and looked at the card. "Same handwriting," she whispered.
"I know," Ginny said. "You don't think that kid –"
"What? No!" Hermione dismissed. "How is it possible that a first year will have such curved and neat handwriting? And write such beautiful words? No way."
"I guess you're right," Ginny said quietly.
Ron cleared his throat, as if to let them know he was still there. "Am I missing something?"
"Ginny has a secret admirer," Hermione said cheerfully.
"A secret admirer?" Ron asked, almost not believing. He started to chuckle. "No way! Do you know who it is?"
"Probably Dean," Ginny replied. "It must be him."
Would she force herself to believe it is Dean? Will she be disappointed to find out if it weren't him? Ginny couldn't answer those questions because Hermione interrupted her before she could think it over.
"Well, come on, open it! I want to see what you got!" she said keenly.
Ginny tore the shiny wrapping and discovered a red velvet box in a shape of a heart. She slowly opened it and gasped when she finally saw what was inside. It was a beautiful silver necklace with three magnificent pearls. The minute she saw it, her heart softened. She loved it. It must have cost him quite a lot, she thought. Whoever he is. She knew she must find out who is it.
She immediately put it on; blocking the comments Ron threw at her at that. And she couldn't stop reading the card. It was too beautiful to take her eyes off it, same as the necklace. Word for word, she read and reread it, until she memorized it by heart.
Dear Ginny,
I was sitting and thinking what I should write to you,
it was a hard task to come up with words.
All what came to my mind were Happy Christmas and
a Happy New Year, but I knew it wasn't enough.
Not for you.
You mean to me much more, so I thought that maybe
it was time that I should let my creative side (If I have
one) to take over.
I wish you this year to be happy, to be loved. To be
grateful that you have healthy life and that you are safe.
To know that I'm here thinking about you all the time.
I hope you like my gift, as I spent hours thinking if it
will suit you well. A pretty neck like yours deserves to
wear something nice.
So finally- Happy Christmas!
Yours truly,
Your Secret Santa.
Right then, Ginny knew she wanted to meet him. No matter who he was, she would accept him.
A/N: Please review! I worked really hard on this chapter. The next two or three aregoing to be quite important to the story. I've been really looking forward to writing them.